Our McCormick
Ancestry
The inscriptions on a large flat grave-sized tombstone
located in the "Old Cemetery" which surrounds the remaining ruins of
the earlier church, constitutes an important guide to McCormick family history.
The stone may be located by turning left when one enters the gate of the
"Old Cemetery" and proceeding parallel to the cemetery wall until two
large flat stones with the McCormick inscriptions are spotted. The first stone
has information, which as yet cannot be related to the information on the
adjacent one. The second stone carries the names of the early McCormicks of
Drumbane, Co. Donegal, and of McCormicks of Ballought, a townland located a few
miles away near Sion Mills in the parish of Ardstraw, Co. Tyrone. There is
further tombstone information within the old ruins of the old church at the
back of the cemetery. The information there deals with later generations of the
McCormicks of Drumbane. It is likely that if one had a plan of the cemetery
that one might locate other tombstones within either the "Old
Cemetery" or the adjacent "New Cemetery" which would have
information about related McCormicks or families they were linked to by
marriage. In many cases the old flat stones are obscured by plant growth and it
would take some time to make a thorough check.
Returning our attention to the Drumbane-Ballought tombstone
near the cemetery wall, the first entry at the top of the stone deals with one
John McCormick and his wife Jane. At this point, it is assumed that John lived
on the townland of Drumbane, although this is not stated. It is also assumed
that he is the father of Joseph McCormick, the next male entry on the stone,
whose residence is stated as being Drumbane. Some of the dates on the stone are
very difficult to read and it is possible that some of the numbers have been
misread. Subject to the above assumptions and possible errors in dates, the
McCormick information on the tombstone and information from other sources can
be pieced together as follows:
Family
# 1
John McCormick & Jane
John McCormick was born in
1749 and died on the 11th of July 1835, at the age of 86 years. He
was married to Jane (?), who was born in 1742 and who died in February 1832, at
the age of 90 years. (The date of her death is difficult to read and could be a
later date.) If the next mentioned McCormick is John’s son, Jane was probably
his second wife, as being of the age of 52 at the birth of a child is not very
reasonable.
Family
# 2
Joseph McCormick (b.1794 d.1878) & Elizabeth (b.1795
d.1837)
& Anne (second wife?) (b.1789 d.1869)
Joseph McCormick, assumed
to be the son of John McCormick, died on March 20, 1878, at the age of 84. The
tombstone information includes the fact that he was a resident of Drumbane. The
tombstone information does not include any reference to his wife Elizabeth. The
records of Urney Parish, however, states this fact, as there is baptismal
information in these records about some of their children. An Elizabeth
McCormick is recorded as being buried on May 15, 1837, at the age 42. This
Elizabeth is not identified as the wife of Joseph, but she is
listed as being from Drumbane. Her age at death ties in nicely with the period
during which the children were born. It is likely that Joseph and Elizabeth
were married 1818, give or take a year or two, and it is also likely that their
firstborn child was a girl.
The surviving records of
Urney Parish date from the period of 1813-1815 and they seem to have been
carelessly and irregularly kept until the mid-1800s. In a parish census taken
in 1849, Joseph McCormick’s name is immediately followed by that of
"Anne", his wife. In this entry, sons, John, Thomas, Joseph and
David, and daughters, Eliza and Sarah were still living at home. Elsewhere the
parish records state that one Ann McCormick of Drumbane was buried on April
1869, at the age of 80. The death of Joseph’s wife, Elizabeth, in 1837,
preludes any children of the marriage of Joseph and Anne, as she would have
been 48 years old, even if Joseph had immediately remarried. Griffith’s
Evaluation, a survey taken for taxation purposes, states that in 1857 that
Joseph McCormick held 30 acres, two roods of Drumbane from Sir Fred W. Heygate.
When the vestry of the parish of Urney assigned pews in the new church on July
28, 1866, Joseph McCormick and his family of Drumbane were assigned Pew No.6.
As yet, the parish records have not been checked beyond the early 1870's, and
it is possible that when this is done that further information about the death
of any McCormick born in the late 1700's will not be found. A search of the
records of the surrounding parishes may provide information about some of the
early McCormick marriages for it is customary for the marriage to be performed
in the bride’s parish.
Evidence from various
sources, linked with some assumptions, suggests that Joseph McCormick and his
wife Elizabeth had at least nine children, five girls and four boys. Their
names and likely order of birth was as follows: Jane, John Thomas, Joseph, Mary
Anne, Jacob, David, Charlotte, Elizabeth and Sarah. As not very much
information has been gathered about the girls, information about three sons
will be presented first. John Thomas, Joseph and David fathered three branches
of McCormicks.
Family
# 3A
John Thomas McCormick & Margaret Leitch
(b.1821 d. Dec.20, 1885) (b.1826 d. Dec.28, 1896)
John Thomas McCormick, the
eldest son of Joseph and Elizabeth McCormick, married Margaret, the daughter of
Samuel Leitch of the townland of Skelpy in parish of Urney, Co. Donegal. They
were married by Vincent B. Smyth in the presence of Wm. John Leitch, James
Gordon and Joseph McCormick on September 21, 1853. The groom would have been 32
and the bride 27. As their marriage residence is listed as being of Ballought
(various spellings), a townland near Sion Mills in the parish of Ardstraw, Co.
Tyrone, when their first child was born, it follows that John Thomas acquired
land in Ballought not more than a few years before his marriage. Although
living in the parish of Ardstraw, they continued to attend church in the parish
of Urney, Both husband and wife were buried in the McCormick grave in the
"Old Cemetery" of "Urney Church".
John Thomas, as the eldest
son, would ordinarily have inherited the Drumbane farm but in many cases the
oldest son would not care to wait until the death of his father and could well
have worked out some other form of settlement. Marrying and living in the same
home as ones parents as well as other unmarried brothers and sisters was not
always a satisfactory arrangement. The most likely explanation is that John
Thomas’ father Joseph acquired the land as he is listed in the Hamilton
Rent Books of
1849/50 as to having land in Ballought (or Ballaugh as it is spelled there).
John Thomas then acquired the land from his father at the time of his marriage.
John Thomas and his wife
Margaret had nine children, six sons and three daughters. Details about their
children and their children’s descendants follows:
(1)- Joseph McCormick
(Born. Aug.1854) (Died?)
It
is possible that this eldest son of a large family preferred to take money as a
settlement for his inheritance. At any rate as a young man he went to the
U.S.A. with his cousin Joseph McCormick of Crillen, near Kesh, Co. Fermanagh.
His cousin settled in Iowa and perhaps he did the same. No further information
is available at this time.
(2)- Elizabeth (Bessie)
McCormick (Born. 1855) (Died. Late 1920's)
"Aunt
Bessie" as she was known, married an elderly widower, William Houston
(born. c1838). William was the first child of Ezekiel and Margaret (nee
Fletcher). He lived and farmed in Ballought close to Bessie’s home. He had one
son, Ezekiel (born Jan. 24, 1879) and two daughters, Mary (born Jan. 25, 1881)
and Jane (born Sept. 22, 1882) from his first marriage, to Mary (nee Thompson).
William died prior to 1915. William and Bessie had three daughters and one son
as follows:
(a)-
Eliza Jane Houston (Lizzie) (Born. October 4, 1889) (Died?)
She
married one James McKane and lived between Strabane and Londonderry. It is
believed that they had a family.
(b)-
Margaret Anne Houston (Maggie) (Born. April 27, 1891) (Died?)
She
married John McCausland (born August 17, 1861)(died April 20, 1950) son of
William McCausland (1823-March 10, 1915) and Rebecca (nee McKean) (1833-January
8, 1923). They lived in the townland of Drumenan, in the St.Johnston district
in Co.Donegal and they had no family.
(c)-
Mary Ellen Houston (Ellie) (Born. August 4, 1892) (Died?)
She
married Mr. John Knox who lived close to Ballought. It is thought that they had
no family.
(d)-
William Ezekiel Houston (Willie) (Born. July 28, 1893) (Died?)
He
married a McKane, probably not a relative of his sister’s husband and went to
Australia in the 1920s. He died there but it is thought his body was returned
to Ireland.
(3)- Anne (Annie) Maria
McCormick (Born. March 25, 1858) (Died Sept. 13, 1936)
She
married her cousin Joseph McCormick, the son of David McCormick, of Drumbane
Co. Donegal, on (?). David had inherited the Drumbane property. (See Family # 3C)
(4)- Samuel (Sam)
McCormick (Born. 1860) (Died. Late 1930's)
A
recheck of the Urney parish records is required, as either the minister
neglected to record his birth and baptism, or the writer missed seeing the
entry. As the second eldest son, it would have been assumed that Samuel would
have inherited Ballought from his father John Thomas McCormick. Perhaps his
marriage in the mid-1880s was a factor and a financial settlement was a
solution. "Uncle Sam", as he was known, married his cousin Francis
(Fannie) McCormick, a daughter of Joseph McCormick (See Family # 3B) of the townland of Crillen, near
Kesh, County Fermanagh. On the 3rd of April 1886, he entered an agreement to purchase
the writer’s grandfather’s one- half of the townland of Crillen. Robert Sproule
had inherited one-half of Crillen and the home and buildings on that half from
his uncle, Joseph Sproule. Robert Sproule’s father, also Robert Sproule, had
originally owned the other half of the townland of Crillen which also had a
home and buildings on it. Old Robert Sproule died in 1847 and a few years later
his widow married Joseph McCormick the father of Frances McCormick. In short, two farms, once
Sproule properties, were now in the possession of two McCormicks, uncle and
nephew (son-in-law).
As
a young man Samuel McCormick had worked with a coach maker and acquired all the
skills of the trade. In addition to farming, he often undertook jobs in his
field of training and in carpentry. In 1909 Samuel sold his Crillen farm to Wm.
J.T. McCormick. Samuel and Frances had five daughters. The first three went to
the U.S.A. at intervals between 1906 and 1914. It is thought that they first
went to Iowa, which is understandable, as they could have contacted their
mother’s brother, Joseph, who had gone to Iowa as a young man. It is believed
that around 1914, Samuel’s wife, Frances, and the two youngest children left
for the U.S.A. Samuel was to follow them but he never did. He continued to live
in or near Kesh for some years. Later he lived with his widowed sister Annie at
Drumbane. When her son David planned marriage, he moved into a cottage on the
farm. He is buried in Urney Cemetery. Children were as follows:
(a)-
Eva McCormick (b. around 1888) (d.?)
(b)-
Gretta McCormick (b. about 1891) (d.?)
She
won a scholarship to or at Celbridge College and became a teacher. She is known
to have returned to Ireland for a visit in the 1950's.
(c)-
Blanche McCormick (b. about 1893) (d.?)
All
we know about Blanche is that she had a daughter called Mrs. Grover Rogers of
9315 Swinton Avenue, Sepulueda, California, U.S.A. 91343. She visited Ireland
in 1978.
(d)-
Annie (Nancy) McCormick (b. about 1897) (d.?)
(e)-
Martha McCormick (b. about 1900) (d.?)
All
of the girls got married. It is thought that they and their mother who was born
on October 21, 1858, all lived in California.
(5)-Vincent Beatty
Smyth McCormick (b. March 10, 1862) (d. 1953)
It
is obvious that Vincent was named after the minister who married his father and
mother. Vincent, the third son was next in line to inherit the Ballought farm
but he had "served his time" in business and it is thought that he
preferred to receive money as his inheritance. At any rate, he became a general
merchant and seed merchant in a store on Main Street, Castlederg, Co. Tyrone.
It is believed his name is still on the store. Vincent married Helena Crawford,
believed to have been a twin. (Her twin sister’s name was Martha. She married a
Methodist minister, Edward White.) Helena Crawford was the daughter of Isaac
Crawford of the townland of Cullion, Pettigo, Parish of Templecarn, Co.
Donegal. (Helena’s aunt, Anne Crawford, the sister of her father, married David
McCormick of Drumbane.) (See Family # 3c) Helena was born about 1875 and is
thought to have died about 1956. Vincent and Helena had two children, a boy and
a girl as follows:
(a)-
Albert McCormick (b.?) (d. November 1978)
Albert
inherited his father’s business and operated it until his death. Albert married
(?). Albert and his wife had one daughter who now probably runs the business.
(b)-
Florrie McCormick (b.?)
Florrie,
Albert’s sister, had married Charlie Moffit, a businessman who lives somewhere
near Omagh, Co. Tyrone. There are (?) children.
(6)- William John
Thomas McCormick (b. March 4, 1864) (d. January 13, 1945)
"Willie"
inherited his father’s farm of Ballought. His father, John Thomas, died in late
1885. Prior to his inheritance, Willie had planned to be a schoolteacher. In
Willie’s time the Ballought farm consisted of 75 Irish acres, a larger acre
than used elsewhere. On July 29, 1896(?), Willie married his cousin Martha
McCormick, the daughter of David McCormick and Anne Crawford of Drumbane,
Co.Donegal. Martha was born on June 25, 1873, and died on September 16, 1940,
at the age of 66. Both Willie and Martha are buried in the Drumbane - Ballought
grave of the McCormick’s in the Old Cemetery of Urney church, the church in
which they were married. About three years after they were married, Willie
purchased 35 acres of the townland of Glentimon, which lay just north of the Ballought
farm. In 1909 Willie and his growing family moved to the Crillen farm of about
75 acres which he bought from his brother Samuel. (He continued to hold the
Glentimon properties but they were about 20 miles away from the Crillen farm
near Kesh, he rented these farms for several years.) He also bought the second
Crillen farm of about 75 acres from his cousin, the Reverend John Harper
McCormick, the son of his Uncle Joseph McCormick who died in 1907. In 1917
Willie sold the Crillen properties, the farm with the "Old house"
being sold to a Mr. Philips and the property with the new house being sold to a
Mr Aiken. The family had returned to the Ballought farm but shortly after heard
that an attractive property called Magheracallaghan in Co.Donegal was up for
sale. This property, consisting of 144 acres, was located close to the Drumbane
property and in visiting in that area with the McCormick relatives, Willie had
always admired the property. Willie bought the Magheracallaghan property for
about six thousand pounds from three elderly sisters by the name of Cunningham.
Once again Willie had two properties separated by several miles, so the
Ballought farm was sold to his widowed sister, Mrs William Houston for her son
William. The son later sold the property and moved to Australia. The Glentimon
property was sold to his brother Vincent McCormick who rented the farm out.
Willie bought a 30-acre farm in the townland of Coolyslin near Castlefin in the
mid-1920s with the intention that it would be a farm for his second son, Fred.
The Magheracallaghan property, renamed "Elwood", became the property
of the eldest son Joseph. (Joe)
William
J.T. McCormick and his wife Martha had a family of ten children, consisting of
eight daughters and two sons, as follows –
(a)-
Olive Margaret McCormick (b. August 16, 1897) (d?)
The
above married George Sproule (b. March 19, 1896 - d. November 9, 1974) on the
23 October 1918. George had inherited the farm of Caraveitragh, part of the
townland of Caraveitragh, and adjacent property in the townland of Cavan,
located near Clones, Co. Monaghan. Their four eldest sons were born there and
the three younger sons in Alberta, Canada, to which the family moved to in
1928. As a family has been rather prolific and would require too much space for
the purpose of this account the following is offered as a summary –
1.
- Robert "Bert" Sproule, (b. September 15, 1919)(d. November 17,
1974)
Bert
was born at Caraveitragh. Farmed in the Chancellor district east of Calgary,
Alberta. Bert is buried in Standard Alto. Six adult children, four sons and two
daughters. All but two of the sons are married and each has children.
A.
Robert Sproule (b.?)
2.
- Cecil George Sproule (b. June 9, 1921)
Cecil
was born at Caraveitragh. A retired Staff Sargent of the Edmonton Police Force,
Edmonton, Alberta. Two sons by his first marriage (now married with children).
Widowed and remarried with one daughter by his second wife.
3.
- Neville William Sproule (b. August 8, 1922)
Neville
was born at Caraveitragh. Neville worked as a building contractor and lives in
Oyama, British Columbia. He married Irene Violet Lefever of Medicine Hat on
October 30, 1943. They have five adult children, three sons and two daughters.
A.
Brian K. Sproule (b. February 17, 1947)
Brian
was born in Vernon. He is not married.
B.
Neville Lisle Sproule (b. November 20, 1948)
Neville
married Suzana Kovachich of Prince George, BC, on July 8, 1972. They live in
Oyama, BC. They have two sons.
(i).
George Neville Sproule (b. August 9, 1978)
George
was born in Vernon, BC. He married Lindsay Boilard of Oyama, BC, on September
15, 2001. They have two children, a boy and a girl.
I.
Samantha Rae Sproule (b. November 14, 1999)
II.
Hunter James Sproule (b. March 8, 2002)
(ii).
Michael Lisle Sproule (b. April 25, 1981)
Michael
was born in Vernon, BC. He married Ana Argueta on June 30th 2002.
C.
Colleen Gayle Sproule (b. July 24, 1953)
Colleen
married Gordon Mitchell Graves of Oyama, BC, on August 11, 1973. They have two
sons.
(i).
Darren Scott Graves (b. October 21, 1978)
Darren
was born in Bonvile, Alberta.
(ii).
Dustin Kyle Graves (b March 13, 1981)
Dustin
was born in Bonvile, Alberta. He has one son.
I.
Dean Kyle
D.
Sharon Irene Sproule (b. May 6, 1956)
Sharon
married Rocky George Saliken of Kelowna, BC, on June 10, 1978. They live in
Abbotsford, BC. They have two sons.
(i).
Riley Jay Saliken (b. August 20, 1988)
Riley
was born in Abbotsford, BC.
(ii).
Tanner Reed (b. June 12, 1993)
Tanner
was born in Abbotsford, BC.
E.
Kevin A. Sproule (b. September 23, 1960)
Kevin
was born in Vernon. He is not married.
4.
- Albert Frederick "Fred" Sproule (b. May 28, 1926) (d. March 7,
1998)
Fred
was born at Caraveitragh. A former high-school teacher in Edmonton, Alberta, he
was married with two sons. He is buried in Edmonton.
5.
- John "Jack" Alvin Sproule (b. March 21, 1934)
Jack
was born at Bassano, Alberta. Farming in the Hussar district, east and north
east of Calgary. Three sons, the youngest deceased as an infant.
6.
- Winston Eric Sproule (b. December 11, 1939)
Winston
was born at Standard, Alberta. A retired minister in Rosebud, Alberta, north
east of Calgary. Married Vera from Ukraine and has three sons.
A.
Wesley Sproule (b.?)
Wesley
married Lois (?) of (?) on (?).
B.
Royal Sproule (b.?)
C.
Garfield Sproule (b.?)
7.
- Garfield Raphael Sproule (b. December 14, 1940)(d. August 4, 1942)
Garfield
was born at Standard, Alberta. Drowned on the family farm in the Chancellor
district.
George
Sproule operated a 400 acre farm about 60 miles east of Calgary and south of
the hamlet of Chancellor from the spring of 1929 to 1948 at which time George
and Olive moved to Bowness, later incorporated into the city of Calgary. George
continued to operate the farm on a commuter basis for another few years and
then sold it to his eldest son Robert who farmed nearby. In turn Robert sold it
to his eldest son, Robert.
Around
1958 George and Olive bought a home in the northern part of Calgary. George was
killed in 1974 while riding as a passenger in a car. He is buried in Northmount
Cemetery, Calgary, as is his youngest son, Garfield. Olive sold the Calgary
home in the summer of 1979 and moved to live with her son Cecil in Edmonton.
(b)
- Annie Crawford McCormick (b. March 4, 1899)(d. May 7, 1978)
Called
"Nan" by her family, she was married on 28 August 1921 at Urney
Parish Church, to William "Bill" Drean (b. May 26, 1882) (d. April 1,
1952) . He is buried in Portrush, Co. Antrim. He served in the merchant navy.
1.
Thomas William "Tom" Drean, M.B.E, 1977 (b. March 19, 1922 in
Glasgow) (d. September 16, 1988 in Plymouth, England)
Tom’s
career was the Royal Navy in which he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
He was a much loved and respected person and served as a councillor in Plymouth
and was Deputy Lord Mayor 1987/88. He married Jean Elizabeth Connor (b. January
16, 1928)(d. September 17, 1979) on February 11, 1952 in Cornwall. His mother
also lived in England for the latter part of her life and is buried there. Tom
and Jean had three children as follows:
A.
Guy Fraser Drean (b. December 8, 1955)
Lives
in London.
B.
Andrew Peter "Ross" Drean (b. February 9, 1958)
Served
in the army where he learned his trade, carpentry. He and his wife, Jennie
Louise Atkinson (m. August 21, 1985) run their own Shopfitting/Construction
business. They live in Reading, England and have three children.
(i)-
Siobhan Elizabeth Drean (b. October 20, 1988)
(ii)-
Kirsten Louise Drean (b. May 25, 1991)
(iii)-
Samantha (Sammie) Georgina Drean (b. September 26, 1997)
C.
Jonathan Charles Thomas Drean (b. August 12, 1968)
Married
Geraldine Steiner on 18 January 1997. They live in London and Plymouth.
2.
Garfield Crawford "Gary" Drean
Gary
served in the British army before and during World War 2. After the war he went
to Pennsylvania, USA where his Uncle Fred was living, where he started farming.
It is believed that he did not marry.
(c)
- Elizabeth Palmer McCormick (b. March 31, 1901)
On
October 24, 1928, she married James Aiken (b.?)(d. 1958?) of Kesh, Co.
Fermanagh. After some years near Kesh the family moved to Belfast. They had two
daughters:
1.
Rosemary Aiken (b.?)(d. November 10, 1998)
Rosemary
made a career in banking and in the 1970's became one of the first women to
become an Assistant Manager of a bank (Northern Bank, 109 Royal Av, Belfast).
Rosemary was unmarried and lived with her mother on the outskirts of Belfast.
2. Kathleen Aiken (b.?)
Kathleen
married Robert "Bert" Rudd. They have three children:
A.
John Rudd (b.?)
B.
Keith Rudd (b.?)
C.
Valerie Rudd (b.?)
(d)
- Mary "Molly" Helena McCormick (b. August 2, 1902)
Molly
never married and lived close to her brother, Fred, in Omagh.
(e)
- Maud McCormick (b. June 22, 1903)(d. June 9, 1973)
Maud
married Blake McCartney (b. December 13, 1894)(d. January 20, 1956), a son of
William and Margaret McCartney of Skea, Co. Fermanagh, on February 16, 1927.
Husband and wife are buried in the cemetery of Ardess Church near Kesh, Co.
Fermanagh. Blake operated a thriving general store and other services in Kesh.
They had five children:
1.
Garfield "Gary" W.G. McCartney (b. August 27, 1929)
Gary
became a physician and for many years operated a clinic in Lisburn, Co. Antrim.
In 1978 Gary entered a contract to go as a doctor to Saudi Arabia to help staff
a new government hospital. Gary married Marilyn Johnston, of Omagh, Co. Tyrone,
and had two children:
A.
Rory McCartney (b. ?)
Rory
married Elizabeth (?) of (?). They have two children.
B.
Siobhan McCartney (b. ?)
Siobhan
married Lewis McCallum of (?). They have three children.
2.
Norman Samuel McCartney (b. March 10, 1931)(d. August 22, 1958)
Norman
was in business with his father at Kesh. He died as a result of injuries
suffered in a driving accident. He was not married. He is buried in the
cemetery of Ardess Church near Kesh.
3.
Maureen Evelyn McCartney (b. September 6, 1932)
Maureen
married Brian Loane, of Kesh. In recent years they have taken over the business
founded by Maureen’s father. They live in Kesh. They had four children:
A.
Blakely Loane (b. ?)
Blakely
married Sharon (?) of (?). They have two children.
(i)-
Sharni Loane (b.?)
(ii)-
Claire Loane (b.?)
B.
Karen Loane (b. ?)
Karen
married Drew Campbell of (?). They have two children.
(i)-
Emma Campbell (b.?)
(ii)-
Stephanie Campbell (b.?)
C.
Mark Loane (b. ?)
Mark
married Joy Armstrong of (?). They have two children.
(i)-
Kris Loane (b. May 3, 1988)
(ii)-
Brian Loane (b. April 9, 1991)
For
more about Brian, visit his website at http://www.brianloane.co.uk
(iii)-
Kerri Loane (b. November 16, 1995)
D.
Jill Loane (b. ?)
Jill
married Colin Parkinson of (?). They have four children.
(i)-
Lucy Parkinson (b.?)
(ii)- Ben Parkinson (b.?)
(iii)-
Abigail Parkinson (b.?)
(iv)-
Molly Parkinson (b.?)
4.
Patricia "Pat" Harriet Maud McCartney (b. January 16, 1936)
She
married Edward "Ted" John McLeer, a son of John McLeer and Dora
Stevenson of Irvinstown, Co. Fermanagh, on July 17, 1958. He is an inspector in
the Royal Ulster Constabulary. The McLeer’s live in a country residence near
Newtonards, Co. Down. They had four children as follows:
A.
Laura Patricia McLeer (b. July 15, 1959)
Laura
married Tom Henry of (?). They have two children.
(i)-
Ryan Henry (b.?)
(ii)-
Stuart Henry (b.?)
B.
Julie Marina McLeer (b. September 17, 1962)
Julie
married Bill Corry of (?). They have two children.
(i)-
Genna Corry (b.?)
(ii)-
Scott Corry (b.?)
C.
Norman John McLeer (b. June 26, 1965)
Norman
married Adrienne (?) of (?). They have two children.
(i)-
Nathan McLeer (b.?)
(ii)-
Rebeka McLeer (b.?)
D.
Sheena Maureen McLeer (b. December 29, 1969)
Sheena
married Ian Hunter of (?). They have one child.
(i)-
Ben Hunter
5.
Raymond Blakely McCartney (b.?) - (d. April 11 2007)
Raymond
married Caroline Moore. He served in his father’s business and later went into
the operation of hotels in Kesh and near Enniskillen. Later he sold these
hotels and purchased several hundred acres of the estate surrounding Necarne
Castle near Irvinstown, Co. Fermanagh. It was Raymond that filmed the aftermath
of the "Poppy Day" bombing, where eleven people were killed, in
Enniskillen on November 8th 1987. The amateur video footage was
shown on news programmes to millions all over the world. Raymond is also
promoting new business ventures in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh where he now
lives. Raymond and Caroline have two children:
A.
Jayne McCartney (b. November 20, 1968)
Jayne
married Gordon Daley of Monea, Enniskillen. Jayne was born in Kesh but now
lives outside Enniskillen, where she runs her own art studio called "The Poppy Patch". She was
educated at Portora Royal School. They have three children.
(i)-
Christopher Daley (b. December 12, 1993)
(ii)-
Meagan Daley (b. April 4, 1995)
(iii)-
Rose-Anna Daley (b. September 15, 2000)
B.
Terry McCartney (b. January 25, 1971)
Terry
married Mary McGonagle of Newtownstewart. Research shows that Terry has
continued into the hotel business as his father did. He currently owns a hotel
in Co. Fermanagh. (There is a link to it on the main page). Terry and Mary have
one child, a boy.
(i)-
Lewis Blakely McCartney (b. August 13, 2002)
(ii)-
Ellen Rosie (Ellie) McCartney (b. April 13, 2005)
(f)
- Joseph "Joe" John Thomas McCormick (b. September 17, 1905)(d. 1990)
Joe
married Elizabeth Mary "Elsie" Bustard (b. November 12, 1901)(d. May
9, 1973) the daughter of Robert Crawford Bustard and Elizabeth Annie McCormick,
on October 23, 1930. Joe farmed the Magheracallaghan farm near Castlefin, Co.
Donegal, and inherited the farm from his father. In the post World War II
years, farm help was difficult to get and the farm involved considerable work.
The property was sold in two stages. Joe and his family then moved to a farm
called Ferndale close to Omagh, Co. Tyrone. Joe lived on the farm up until his
death in (?). Both Joe and Elsie are buried in Omagh.
1.
Olive McCormick
She
married William "Will" Carson, the son of Samuel Carson and Daisy
Kelly of Drumclamph Farm, Castlederg, on (?). He operated an auctioneering
business in Castlederg, Co.Tyrone up until his death in 1996. Their children
are as follows.
A.
Samuel Joseph Carson (b. 1952)
George
married Kathy Harry. They live in Cardiff, Wales. Samuel is a Senior
Educational Psychologist with the early intervention service, Sure Start. They
have one son.
(i)-
George Carson (b. 1996)
B.
Sandra Carson (b. 1956)
Sandra
married John Hutchison, a retired bank manager, and lives in Newtownards,
Northern Ireland. They have two children.
(i)-
Rachael Hutchison (b. 1986)
(ii)-
Stuart Hutchison (b. 1988)
2.
Wilfred Robert McCormick(b. June 7, 1933)
Wilfred
was born in Magheracallaghan, Castlefin were he worked with his father for some
time on the farm until they moved to Omagh, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland in
1956. He was married Marie Bainton, a nurse from London, England, in Belfast,
on June 8, 1957. They immigrated to Canada together on March 17, 1958, settling
in Calgary, Alberta. He purchased he Bowness home (this originally belonged to
the Sproules) in 1958. Wilfred and Marie divorced in 1967. Wilfred now lives in
Calgary and was employed by the Calgary Transit System. Wilfred remarried and
has three children, one from his first marriage and two stepdaughters from his
second marriage to Caroline Reiter (married June 9, 1984).
A.
Pamela Joyce McCormick (b. August 1967)
Joyce
married David Keith Pailey. They have their own landscape contracting business.
They have three children.
(i)-
Timothy Paley (b.?)
(ii)-
Scott Paley (b.?)
(iii)- Jenna Marie Paley (b.?)
B.
Kathryn "Kathy" Elaine Reiter (b. August 30, 1968)
Kathy
married Dennis Pinco (b. October 1963 in Edmonton, Alberta) on August 11, 1990
in Calgary. They have no children.
C.
Michelle Carol Reiter (b. November 19, 1969)
Michelle
married James "Jim" Albertson of Calgary on April 22, 1995.They have
two children.
(i)-
Kailee Ann Albertson (b. January 19, 1997)
(ii)-
Matthew James Albertson (b. May 24, 1999)
3.
Iris McCormick(b.?)
Iris
married the Rev. Thomas "Tom" Sawyers, the son of Robert and (?)
Sawyers of Aughnacloy, Co. Tyrone. Their children are as follows:
A.
Paul Sawyers
B.
Wesley Sawyers
C.
Shirley Sawyers
4.
William Joseph McCormick(b. July 28, 1945)
William
also immigrated to Canada in May 1964 at the age of nineteen. He settled in
Calgary, Alberta, where he worked with the Canadian Pacific Railway and later
with Western Co-Op Fertilizers as an electrician. He is now semi-retired. He
married Sandra "Sandy" Gaile Wheatley, of Calgary, on August 2, 1969.
They divorced in 1981. He never remarried. Their children are as follows:
A.
Kimberly Deanne Elizabeth McCormick (b. January 4, 1970)
Kim
married Keith Scott McLean (b. 24 September 1967), of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan,
Canada, on August 8, 1992, in Morley, Alberta. Kim studied journalism but is
now a full-time mother at home and someday plans to write children’s
storybooks. Keith runs his own legal firm. They have two children.
(i)-
Keara Danielle McLean (b. February 20, 1993)
Keara
was born in Calgary.
(ii)-
Daineal Keegan McLean (b. August 23, 1996)
Daineal
was born in Calgary.
B.
Ryan Kirby McCormick (b. April 1, 1972)
Ryan
married Katherine Dawn Greenwall on September 5, 1995, in Calgary. Ryan is a
designer of custom furniture and his wife, Kathy, is a legal secretary. They
have two children.
(i)-
Liam McCormick (b. June 27, 2003)
(ii)-
Carleigh McCormick (b. October 5, 2006)
C.
Aran Tyrone McCormick (b. October 4, 1974)
Aran
married Meghan Catherine Stephenson (b. July 17, 1977) on August 15, 2009 at St.
Georges-in-the-Pines Anglican Church, Banff, Alberta, Canada. Meghan works in
Human Resources for an Oil Company. Aran is currently working on his Bachelor
of Fine Arts at the "Alberta College of Art and Design" and composes
music and does freelance Art.
(g)
- Harriet Raphael McCormick (b. May 31. 1908)
Harriet
immigrated to the USA in 1930 and soon became a full time worker for the Pillar
of Fire Church organisation which has several branches in various states. She
never married. When she reached retirement age she returned to Ireland for a
time living at Omagh where her sister Molly and brother Fred and his wife
lived. She returned to her church work and stationed herself near Denver,
Colorado.
(h)
- Frederick "Fred" William McCormick (b. January 4, 1910 – December
6, 1991)
Fred
immigrated to the USA on October 26, 1929 and settled in Pennsylvania. Much to
his surprise he inherited a 70-acre farm in the townland of Drumdoit,
Castlefin, in the 1930s not far from his fathers Magheracallaghan farm in
Co.Donegal. It was left to him by two distant relatives, Samuel and William
Nelson. The depression was on and Fred decided not to return to Ireland to
farm. Around 1939 he asked his father to sell the farm for him and received a
very low sum for the property. Fred served in the US army in World War II and
saw his service in Europe in one of the divisions under the overall command of
General Patton. He returned to Pennsylvania following the war and on March 22,
195? He married Blanche Little (b.?). In 19?? Fred sold his farm near (?) and returned
to Ireland. Finding things to his liking, he decided to retire there and he and
his wife moved to Creggan Park, Omagh, a few doors away from his sister Molly.
He died in Omagh Hospital and is buried in Cappagh parish graveyard. They had
no children.
(i)
- Frances Adelaide McCormick (b. June 7, 1911)
Frances
married Richard Benson, (b. Oct 10,1908), son of Alex and (?) Benson, who then
lived at Caraveitragh near Clones, Co. Monaghan. They were married in Urney
Church on (?). Their three eldest children were born at Clones. Richard went
into the auctioneering of livestock and real estate and since 19?? Has been
operating in Coleraine, Co. L’derry. Their children are as follows:
1.
Evelyn Elizabeth Benson (b. November 10, 1936)
She
went to Canada in (?). She married John Markewitz (b.?), the son of (?) of (?)
on (?). Their children are as follows:
A.
Rachel Markewitz (b. June 30, 1970)
B.
Naomi Markewitz (b. Feb. 2, 1973)
2.
William "Billy" Alexander Benson (b. April 17, 1939)
Billy
married Ann Trolland (b.?) of (?), the daughter of (?) on (?). Billy is in
partnership with his father in Coleraine. There are two children:
A.
Brian Benson (b. March 13, 1974)
B.
Jill Benson (b. December (?), 1976)
3.
John "Jack" Malcolm Benson (b. July 19, 1941)
Jack
also joined his father and brother in the auctioneering and real estate
business in Coleraine. On (?) 1979, he married (?), the daughter of (?), of
(?). They live in Portrush.
4.
Gladys Morrow Benson (b. December 4, 1943)
Gladys
married schoolteacher, Joel Harper (b.?)(d. Sept 24 2002), the son of (?), of
(?). Gladys lives in Portrush. The names of their children are:
A.
Shauna Harper (b. May 15, 1971)
B.
Guy Harper (b. April 2, 1974) (d. March 30, 2000)
Guy
was the victim of a brutal assault on his way home from a local night-club and
died as a result from the injuries he had sustained. He had worked as a
photographer in the fashion industry. His murderer is serving time.
5.
Harold "Harry" Winston Benson (b. March 17, 1945)(d. September 2,
1972)
Harry
was killed in a car accident. He was not married.
6.
Robert "Bert" Neville Benson (b. April 6, 1947)
Bert
married Sandra Hector (b.?), the daughter of (?), of (?), on (?). They live in
Lisburn, Co. Antrim, where Bert is with an engineering firm. They have two
children as follows:
A.
Neil Benson (b. Jan. 24, 1973)
B.
Gary Benson (b. May 26, 1977)
(j)
- Evelyn Mabel McCormick (b. March 28, 1914)
She
married Edward Caldwell (b. April 22, 1908)(d. April 9, 1979), on June 20,1945
at Strabane Church of Ireland church. Edward was the son of Thomas Caldwell and
(?). Evelyn was a bookkeeper/typist for Smith's Mill, Strabane. Her hobbies
were gardening, embroidery, singing with Laggan Choir and music. She
played the organ, piano and mandolin. Edward was a keen farmer and being
interested in raising sheep and breeding pedigree Shorthorn cattle, as well as,
growing grain crops, at Feddyglass, Raphoe, Co. Donegal. His eldest son joined
him in operating the farm and continues to operate it following his father’s
death. Edward is buried in Ballylennon Churchyard, Donegal. The Caldwell’s had
three sons as follows:
1.
Thomas "Ted" Edward Caldwell (b. April 28, 1946)
On
July 26, 1975, Ted married Margaret Jennifer Ferguson (b. June 8, 1952), the
daughter of (?), of (?) in Glenhoy Presbyterian Church, Co.Tyrone. Jennifer is
a maths teacher in Strabane High School. They have 3 sons. Ted continues to
farm at Feddyglass and live in Fairyhill House.
A.
Richard Edward Caldwell (b. September 22, 1979)
B.
Mark Andrew Caldwell (b. August 4, 1981)
C.
David William Caldwell (May 21, 1985)
2.
William John "Don" Caldwell (b. May 19, 1949)
Don
married Judith Marie Wray (b. October 10, 1953) in Raphoe Presbyterian Church,
Co.Donegal, on September 1, 1984. They live in New Buildings, a village about 3
miles from Londonderry. Don is a manager of the Northern bank in Londonderry.
Judith was a secretary and until 1986, worked in the livestock mart in Raphoe.
They have three children.
A.
Matthew William Caldwell (b. February 7, 1986)
B.
Adam Watson Caldwell (b. May 18, 1989)
C.
Rebecca Eileen Caldwell (April 2, 1993)
3.
Kenneth Andrew Caldwell (b. November 12, 1954
Kenneth
married Susan Maud Duncan on July 15, 1981, in Ray 1st Presbyterian
Church, Manorcunningham, Co.Donegal. They live in Balbriggan, Co. Dublin.
Kenneth is a mechanical engineer and travels for Lister Machine Tools, Dublin.
Susan worked as a secretary in Letterkenny until her marriage to Kenneth. They
have three daughters.
A.
Judith Christina Caldwell (b. May 18, 1982)
B.
Laura Suzanne Caldwell (b. September 14, 1983)
C.
Diane Evelyn Caldwell (September 11, 1988)
(7) - Charlotte
McCormick (b. May 12, 1866)(d. 1868)
At
about the age of two she fell into a well on the Ballought farm and was drowned.
(8) - David McCormick
(b. May 1, 1868)(d. disappeared)
He
became a teacher and it is believed that he taught for a time in the Strabane
Academy. In 1901 or shortly after he went to Australia where he secured a job
as a surveyor with the government. After a time all correspondence ceased and
the family was never able to find out what happened to him. Perhaps he lost his
life in a fire or was drowned and his body was never identified.
(9) - Jacob George
McCormick (b. May 3, 1870)(d. November 18, 1885)
As
a boy George jumped off a stone wall and seriously injured his leg. The injury
did not respond to whatever medical treatment was available at the time and he
was confined to a wheelchair. He died when he was 15 and was buried in the
Drumbane-Ballought plot in the Old Cemetery of the Urney church.
This concludes a review of
the family of the John Thomas McCormick and his wife Margaret Leitch and their
descendants as far as information allows as of 1980.
Family
# 3B
Joseph McCormick & Elizabeth McCrea Sproule (widow)
B. 1820 ? B. June 24, 1819
D. May 1, 1907 D. August 13, 1916
Joseph’s tombstone in the
cemetery of Tubrid Church (Church of Ireland) near Kesh, Co. Fermanagh, states
that he died on May 1, 1907, at the age of 84. If the age is correct, he was
the second son of Joseph and Elizabeth McCormick of Drumbane, Castlefin. In
1851, he married Mrs. Elizabeth Sproule, the widow of Robert Sproule, of the
townland of Crillen near Kesh, Co. Fermanagh. Robert had died in 1847 at the
age of 44 leaving four young children, one of whom died a few months later.
Robert Sproule had married Elizabeth "Bessie" McCrea on July 16,
1840, the daughter of John McCrea and Rebecca Harper of the townland of
Clonaweel, parish of Drumkeeran, Co. Fermanagh. Robert and an older brother,
Joseph, held about equal portions of all but a small portion of the 155-acre
townland of Crillen. The Robert Sproule family has lived in the "new"
house on the western portion of the townland while his bachelor brother,
Joseph, lived in the "old" house, just beyond the wall on the eastern
portion of the townland. In addition to her three surviving children by her
first marriage, Rebecca, Martha and Robert, the widow and her second husband
Joseph McCormick had six children. Information about these children follows:
(1) - Joseph McCormick
(b. July 11, 1852)(d.?)
As
a young man he moved to the USA and settled in the state of Iowa. It is thought
that his address was "Westbend" or a place of similar sounding name.
It is thought that he was accompanied or followed shortly after by his cousin,
Joseph McCormick, the eldest son of John Thomas McCormick of the townland of
Ballought, Co. Tyrone. It is believed that he died around 1950, close to 100
years old.
(currently
awaiting an update from Joseph’s great great granddaughter, Misty Murlock Wei)
(2) - John Harper
McCormick (b. August 21, 1854)(d.?)
He
became a Minister in the Church of Ireland. For many years he served in a
country church called Ahamplish in Co. Sligo. Later it is believed he served in
Co. Roscommon and then retired to Dublin. On his father’s death in 1907 he fell
heir to the Crillen farm which his mother brought into the marriage with his
father. (His stepbrother, Robert Sproule, inherited the adjoining Crillen farm
following the death of his Uncle Joseph Sproule in 1879.) John Harper McCormick
sold the Crillen farm to his cousin, William Thomas McCormick. John Harper
McCormick married (?), of (?), the daughter of (?), on (?) 1885(?). They had
five children as follows:
(a)
- Loftus McCormick (b.?)(d.?)
He,
like his father before him, became a minister of the Church of Ireland. He
married (?), the daughter of (?), of (?), on (?). It is believed that they had
no children. Loftus was living in retirement at Bray near Dublin in the 1950's.
(b)
- Frank McCormick (b.?)(d.?)
He
became a schoolteacher. No other particulars are known.
(c) - Eileen McCormick (b.?)(d.?)
She
became a nurse. No other particulars are known.
(d)
- Olive McCormick (b.?)(d.?)
She
distinguished herself by winning a prize at Trinity College, Dublin, which
before that had always been won by male students. It is thought that she may
have been a teacher but no further particulars are known.
(e)
- Adrith McCormick (b.?)(d.?)
No
details are known.
(3) - Charlotte
Elizabeth McCormick (b. July 30, 1856?)(d.?)
On
(?) she married George Dunlop (b.?)(d.?), and for a time lived on or near the
townland of Doora not far from the Crillen farm. The family emigrated at
intervals to Canada, a daughter, Martha and a son George leaving around 1909.
At first they lived in Toronto. It is believed that there are seven children,
four boys and three girls. The following is not necessarily the order in which
they were born:
(a)
- Margaret "Maggie" Dunlop (b.?)(d.?)
She
lived in Toronto. She never married
(b)
- Elizabeth Dunlop(b.?)(d.?)
She
married (?) Reid (?). They lived in Toronto. She was still alive in the 1950's.
(c)
- Martha Dunlop(b.?)(d.?)
She
married (?) Tait and lived in or near Brandon, Manitoba.
(d)
- Joseph Dunlop(b.?)(d.?)
No
information
(e)
- George Dunlop(b.?)(d.?)
No
information
(f)
- John "Jack" Dunlop(b.?)(d.?)
No
information
(g)
- James "Jimmy" Dunlop(b.?)(d.?)
No
information
(4) - Frances
"Fannie" Anne McCormick (b. October 21, 1858)(d.?)
She
married her cousin Samuel McCormick of Ballought, Co. Tyrone, probably around
1886. (See Family # 3A)
(5) - Eleanor Mary Jane
McCormick (b. July 24, 1860)(d.?)
Perhaps
she was known as "Jennie". It is believed that she went to the USA
and later persuaded her sister Frances’ children, Greta, Eva and Blanche to
come to the states.
(6) - Jacob George
McCormick (b. October 19, 1862)(d.?)
Perhaps
Jacob died or immigrated at a young age as there are no records of him.
Further information about
the members of Family #3B should be available, e.g. From the Church of Ireland
records about ministers which should disclose information about John Harper
McCormick and his son Loftus McCormick. The descendants of Fannie McCormick who
live in the USA should have considerable knowledge.
Family
# 3C
David McCormick & Anne Crawford
Bapt. March 9, 1827 B. 1835
D. January 25, 1892 D. January 20, 1904
David may have been the
fourth son and sixth child of Joseph and Elizabeth McCormick of Drumbane,
Castlefin, Co. Donegal. Although he seems to be a younger son, he was the one
who inherited the farm on the townland of Drumbane. Perhaps this was because
his brothers John Thomas McCormick and Joseph McCormick were already married and
established on their own farms when he married. David was married on February
19, 1863, to Anne Crawford, the daughter of Isaac Crawford, a farmer on the
townland of Cullion, located near Pettigo, Co. Donegal. Anne had three
brothers, James, Robert and Isaac Crawford. James was a traveller with Jacobs
Biscuit Company of Dublin, Robert for a time was mayor of Sligo town and Isaac
Jnr. and his wife Mary Jane had a daughter called Helena, who married Vincent
McCormick, a brother of William J.T. McCormick.
(1) - Joseph McCormick
(b. May 25, 1865)(d. April 16, 1906)
On
the death of his father in 1892, Joseph inherited the Drumbane property. He
married his cousin, Anne Maria McCormick (b. March 25, 1858)(d. September 13,
1936), the daughter of John Thomas McCormick of Ballought, Co.Tyrone (Family
# 3A). Joseph and
Anne McCormick had one son.
(a)
- David Crawford McCormick (b. April 25, 1900)(d. January 25, 1981)
David
married Elizabeth Henderson (b. April 2,1901)(d. October 25,1974), the daughter
of Samuel Henderson who lived in the townland of Glentown, Urney, Co.Tyrone. It
is thought that Elizabeth was a cousin of David’s. David inherited the Drumbane
farm, after his father’s untimely death, at the age of six. At some time during
this period the family converted to Methodism and started attending the
Methodist Church in Strabane. David and Elizabeth had one son and two daughters
as follows –
1.
Hazel McCormick (b.1933)
Hazel
married John Mehaffy, a farmer, from the townland of Carricklee, just outside
Strabane and have seven children.
A.
Anne Mehaffy (b. 1958)
Anne
married Philip Smith, an insurance broker, from Strabane. Anne teaches in a
Primary school in Strabane. They have four children.
(i)-
Robert Smith (b. 1987?)
(ii)-
Peter Smith (b. 1988?)
(iii)-
Andrew Smith (b. 1990?)
(iv)-
Hannah Smith (b. 1996?)
B.
Olive Mehaffy (b. 1959)
Olive
trained as a speech therapist and married Gerald Potterton, a farmer, from
Trim, Co. Meath. They have four children.
(i)-
Max Potterton (b. 1990?)
(ii)-
Rachel Potterton (b. 1992?)
(iii)- Victoria Potterton (b. 1994?)
(iv)- Alison Potterton (b. 1999?)
C.
Alexandra Mehaffy (b. 1960)
Alex
has an administrative post at the Visitors’ Centre of the Giant’s Causeway.
D.
Rosemary Mehaffy (b. 1962)
Rosemary
married Raymond Boyle, a former merchant seaman who now farms with his brother.
Rosemary is a district nurse in Co. Down. They have three children.
(i)-
Sara Boyle (b. 1988?)
Sara
has won many Young Farmers’ Club prizes.
(ii)-
Alison Boyle (b. 1989?)
(iii)-
Edward Boyle (b. 1992?)
E.
Joyce Mehaffy (b. 1963)
Joyce
married Will Crilly of Castlederg, Co. Tyrone. Will has his own business in
Ballinahinch, Co. Down. They have one child.
(i)-
John Crilly (b. 1996?)
F.
William "Bill" Mehaffy (b. 1964)
Bill
works and lives on the Carricklee farm. Married Ann Gillespie, a school
principle, from Kinkasslagh, Co. Donegal in November 1999. They have one boy.
(i)-
John Mehaffy (b. 2000)
G.
David Mehaffy (b. 1965)
David
works with the Kneverland Agriculture Firm in Denmark. He is a talented
musician and regularly plays in an Irish band, which has performed several
times on St. Patrick’s Day in New York.
2.
Joseph "Joe" George McCormick (b. April 15, 1935)
Joe
married Eileen Hastings (b. January 4,1945), the daughter of Hazlett (May 6,
1897 – December 20, 1977) and Letitia Hastings (nee Orr) (married May 6, 1924),
of Legnatraw, St.Johnston, Co.Donegal. Joe inherited the Drumbane farm from his
father in the mid-1970s. They have four children.
A.
David Hazlett McCormick (b. January 2, 1968)
David
married Päivi Kaarina Penttinen (b. November 29,1969), the daughter of Pertti
and Kaarina Penttinen, from Turku in Finland, on June 3, 1995 in St. Michael’s
Church, Turku. David spent two years working in Dublin in sales before he
entered agricultural college at Gurteen, Co. Tipperary. He worked a few years
in the local agri-hardware store (Clonleigh Co-Op) in Castlefin. He then worked
for AIBP Carrigans (Meat Processors) for two years as a Quality Assurance farm
inspector before he and his family moved to Turku. He now works there as an
English teacher and consultant to Finnish businessmen. Before they were married
David and Päivi appeared on Ulster Television (The Gerry Kelly Show) about
their long-distance relationship. In 2007, they moved to the quaint town of
Naantali, 20 minutes drive from Turku. They have three daughters and one son.
(i)-
Katriina Annalisa McCormick (b. March 26, 1996)
Katriina
was born in Letterkenny Gen. Hospital, Co.Donegal, Ireland, while her parents
were still living in Ireland. She moved to Finland along with her parents when
she was two years old. She, like her younger brother and sisters, is being
brought up bilingual with English and Finnish. A keen gymnast, she, along with
her team, won bronze metal in the southern Finnish Championships for her age
group, in 2003. After giving up gymnastics in 2005, Katriina took up a variety
of other hobbies. She played football for the local '96 girls' team for a
couple of years but now attends drama, dance and arts lessons.
(ii)-
Joseph Jonathan "JJ" Kaarlo McCormick (b. February 2, 1999)
JJ
was born less than a year after his parents moved, in Turku University
Hospital, Finland. His dream is to lift the European Champions' League Cup with
Liverpool. For now, he has to settle with VG-62 '99 boys' team for whom he
plays. He also is a Tae Kwon Do Green Belt.
(iii)- Annika Elina Kaarina McCormick
(b. March 7, 2001)
Annika
was born in Turku University Hospital, Finland. She is currently learning to
play the piano.
(iv)- Fiona
Kathleen Kastehelmi McCormick (b. June 21, 2008)
Fiona was born in Turku University Hospital,
Finland.
B.
Elaine Margaret Elizabeth McCormick (b. August 31, 1969)
Elaine
married Declan McNulty (b. April 23, 1970), son of Sammy Joe and Carmel
McNulty, from Clady, just one mile from the Drumbane home. Declan is a partner
in a very successful PVC windows business called Granada Windows, while Elaine
ran her own hairdressing business from home but gave it up to spend more time
with the kids. They used to breed budgerigars as a hobby but quit after the
Bird Flu epidemic. They built a house on the Drumbane farm. They have one son
and one daughter.
(i)-
Matthew Declan Joseph McNulty (b. August 11,1995)
(ii)-
Rachael Leanne McNulty (b. May 2, 1998)
C.
Joanne Louise McCormick (b. February 7, 1974)
Joanne
married John Craig, son of William and Elizabeth Craig, of Broadlea, Raphoe.
Joanne trained in nursing in Edinburgh before she came home to be married. John
is a pig farmer but also has got into property development in recent years as
crises after crises hit the farming industry. They are living beside the
Craig’s Broadlea home. They have two daughters and one son.
(i)-
Kathleen Louise Craig (b. December 27, 1997)
(ii)-
Shannon Craig (b. 1999)
(iii)-
Wilson Craig (b. May 5, 2002)
D.
Wesley Joseph McCormick (b. September 25, 1980)
Wesley
graduated from Greenmount College, Co. Antrim where he received his HND in
Agriculture. He currently works for Donegal Creameries. A talented pianist
(like his grandfather, David and his great-grandfather’s twin sister, Mary) and
regularly plays the organ at the Methodist church in Strabane. He also likes to
sing and has entered many karaoke competitions. He also has sung at a “Country
Night” concert where some “Big Names” also performed.
3.
Ann McCormick (b.)
Ann
married farmer, William "Billy" J. Wilson of Shannagh, Raphoe, Co.
Donegal. They have two sons as follows:
A.
Richard Wilson (b. June 1967)
Richard
married Alison Boreland, daughter of Eric Boreland, a farmer, and lay-preacher
from Kerrykeel, Co. Donegal. They have two children, a daughter and a son.
(i)-
Kerry Wilson (b. August 31, 1997)
(ii)-
Sam Wilson (b. 1999)
(iii)-
Rachel Wilson
B.
Andrew Wilson (b. April 15, 1972)
Andrew
spent some time working in Scotland but in 1996 he came home and took the lease
of the Drumbane farm from his uncle, Joe McCormick.
(2) - Mary McCormick
(b. May 25, 1865)(d.1912)
She
was the twin sister of Joseph. She was educated at the Lifford Prior School a
few miles from Drumbane and just inside the border of Donegal and not far from
Strabane, Co. Tyrone. She became a nurse and it is recalled that a place called
Randelstown, Co. Antrim is one of the places she nursed. She married Andrew
Raphael, a clerk (lawyer) of the Petty Sessions at Ballymena. Andrew was a
skilled organist and at times played in the Londonderry Cathedral. Mary and
Andrew lived at Galorm, Ballymena, Co. Antrim. There were no children. Mary died of diabetes. It is
likely that she is buried in the Ballymena area.
(3) - Isaac William
McCormick L.LB. (b. June 30, 1867)(d. November 4, 1893)
Isaac
took theology at Queens University, Belfast. He was clever and studious and
during his studies took two years in one. He graduated with a Doctorate in
Theology but just about the time he was to be ordained, he contracted
meningitis and died, aged 26. His closest friend was a Roman Catholic priest, a
Father Dominic. Isaac was not married. He was buried in the family grave within
the ruins of the old Urney Church.
(4) - Eliza McCormick
(b. April 14, 1868)(d. November 28, 1933)
"Lizzie"
was also educated at the Lifford Prior School. She became a governess and at
one time taught the children of the Rev. John Harper McCormick. She liked to
write poetry, some of which may still be in the possession of relatives. It is
thought that she won several poetry competitions. Eliza, like her sister, Mary,
also contracted diabetes, which was probably a contributing factor to her
death. She did not marry. It is assumed that she is the Elizabeth
McCormick buried within the ruins of the old Urney Church and it is from that
source that her date of death is given above.
(5) - Annie Crawford McCormick
(b. June 25, 1871)(d. 1930's)
Annie
married James Woods (b.?1870)(d.?1959), the son of David and (?) Woods of the
townland of Glentimon, Co. Tyrone. He was educated in Dublin and qualified for
the position of District Inspector of the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC).
Because of eye trouble he returned to farming. He lived on the townland of
Peacock bank but renamed his property Beachfield. James engaged in poultry
breeding and sent birds to many shows. He also raised Kerry Blue Terriers and
Bull Terriers. In 1905 he was a member of a six-man delegation who visited
England to oppose Gladstone’s Home Rule Bill. He was a Presbyterian. Annie and
James had three daughters as follows:
(a)
– Aileen Woods (b. 1909?)(d. 1977?)
Aileen
went to an agricultural school and became a poultry instructress. She married
David Craig Gamble (b.1909?)(d.1977?), who was also in the government service,
possibly agriculture, and who lived in Castlederg, Co. Tyrone, the son of James
Gamble and Anne Jane "Jinny" Craig. They had four children but there
is very little information about them.
1.
William "Billy" Gamble (b.1935)(d.1939)
2.
Mary Gamble (b.1939)
Mary
Gamble married Fred Faulkner, a farmer from Cookstown & have 5 children.
3.
Ann Gamble (b.1941).
Ann
married John Evans, originally from Tregarron in mid Wales & live in
Cardiff. They have 4 children.
4.
Elizabeth Gamble (b.1942)
Elizabeth
married Sandy Pottie ,a vet from Castlederg (originally from Paisley in
Scotland) & have 4 children.
(b)
– Annie Crawford “Nan” Woods (b. c.1905)
She
was married to Robert William “Bob” Hale (b1902-d2000), a teacher. He was lecturing in Queens University, Belfast
in the mid-1960s, and they were living in Lisburn. They had one child, Patricia Ann (b. January 16, 1933)
who is still living in Castlederg (Erganagh). Pat never married. She was a Dr
of Zoology at Sheffield University - retired.
(c)
- Rosemary Woods (b. April 1, 1912)
She
married Terence Theodore McCorry, a teacher (d. December 24, 1985). They had 2
children. Rosemary was a schoolteacher. It is thought that she is several years
younger than her sisters. There are no other details.
1. Alastair
David McCorry (b. 1945) (d. 2002)
Alastair never married
2. June
McCorry (b. 1950)
June married Ronald James Jordan and they have one
son. They live in Belfast.
A. David Patrick Jordan
(6) - Martha Jane
McCormick (b. June 25, 1873)(d. Sept 16, 1940)
Martha
intended to go into nursing and purchased her uniforms when she agreed to marry
William J.T. McCormick, her cousin and son of John Thomas McCormick. She and
her husband are buried in the Drumbane-Ballought grave in the "Old
Cemetery" of Urney Church. (For details see family #3A)
(7) - John Thomas
McCormick (b. July (?), 1875)(d. March 27, 1942)
"Tom"
had asthma from childhood and was never a robust man. He inherited a small farm
on the townland of Drumbane with a new house adjacent to the property of his
elder brother, Joseph. The address of "The Cottage" was used and the
home had a lovely flower garden and a small orchard. Tom rented out the
farmland to others. At some time between 1909 and 1917 he married
"Sadie" Doherty, (b.1872?)(d.Jan.2, 1928), daughter of James Doherty.
Sadie’s proper name was Sarah and she came from the townland bordering Crillen,
Co. Fermanagh. Tom and Sadie had no children. At times, Tom’s spinster sister,
Elizabeth "Lizzie" lived with them.
The
other children of Joseph McCormick
(b. 1794 d. 1878)
Jane McCormick (b.?)(d.?)
Jane may have been the
eldest child, and if so, was born around 1819. A Jane McCormick married William
Hemphill on October 14, 1837. A Joseph McCormick was present at the
marriage,(Urney Parish records) and one could assume he was the father.
Mary Anne McCormick
(b.?)(d.?)
Mary Anne is tentatively
judged to have been born around 1823-24. A Mary Anne McCormick was married to
John McKelvey of the Parish of Upper Badoney, Co. Tyrone, on Dec. 8, 1842. A
Joseph McCormick was present.
Jacob McCormick (bapt.
April 30, 1826)(d. December 17, 1847)
Urney Parish records show
that Jacob’s father’s name was Joseph in the baptismal entry. The burial entry
says he was of Drumbane and was aged 17 when he died. Arithmetic shows that if
it the same Jacob McCormick in both cases, that Jacob would have been born in
1830.
Charlotte McCormick (bapt.
February 27, 1829?)(d. August 5, 1897)
The records of Urney
Church leave no doubt but that she was a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth
McCormick of Drumbane. Charlotte married Matthew Fairman, son of Thomas
Fairman, of Trenamullen, Stranorlar, Co. Donegal on April 2, 1867(though the
Fairmans’ records show that Charlotte was born in 1832). She was Matthew’s
second wife and had three children by him. The children from Matthew’s previous
marriage immigrated to Australia. Matthew inherited the Trenamullen farm from
his father and it has been run by the Fairman family since. Charlotte died 5
August 1897 (aged 66). Her death was registered by her son Joseph and cause of
death was "Obstruction of bowels - 5 days. Certified". Matthew died
in 1900. Their children are as follows.
(1)- Joseph Fairman (b.
June 10, 1868)(d. 1947)
Joseph
married Georgina Lucas in 1908. He continued working the Treenamullin farm.
They had six children.
(a)
– Cecil Fairman
Cecil
emigrated to Australia. Details needed.
(b)
- Harold Fairman (b.?)(d. 1990)
1.
Hilary Fairman
(c)
- Muriel Fairman
Married
Russell Bockus, a member of the Canadian RAF. They had three or four children.
(d)
- Ernest Fairman
Ernest
married Susan Fleming. They had the following children.
1.
Jeanna Fairman
Jeanna
married Norman Denniston of Donegal. They moved to Canada and had the following
children and a number of grandchildren.
A.
Karen Denniston
B.
Colin Denniston
2.
Muriel Fairman
Muriel
married Albert Adams, from Dublin. They had at least four children, including
twins, Ben and Andrew Adams.
A.
Ben Adams
Ben
spent most summers working on his uncle’s farm in Treenamullin and studied
agriculture at Gurteen Agricultural College at the same time as his distant
cousin, David McCormick of Drumbane (They were both unaware of the
relationship). Ben farms in Saudi Arabia. Ben married Laura (?) and have one
daughter.
(i)-
Jordan Adams
B.
Andrew Adams
Andrew
married Helen (?) in 2002.
C.
David Adams
D.
Susan Adams
3.
Cecil Fairman
Currently
working on home farm. He has at least two children.
A.
Leah Fairman
Leah
works and lives in London.
B.
Kris Fairman (?)
Kris
lives at home and works nearby.
C.
Richard Fairman (?)
Richard
works on the farm with his father.
(e)
- Edward Fairman
Information needed
(f)
- Frederick Fairman
Frederick
lives in Dublin. Married Nancy (?). They have four children, two boys and two
girls.
1.
John Fairman
2.
Alan Fairman
3.
(?) Fairman
4.
(?) Fairman
(2)- Elizabeth Fairman (b.
c1869-71)(d.?) married Andrew Kilpatrick on 23-Sep-1890, in Stranorlar,
Donegal, Ireland.
(3)- Thomas Fairman (b.
1872)(d. 1942) married Adelaide (Fairman) in 1899.
Elizabeth McCormick (bapt.
May 25, 1834)(d.?)
Entries in the records of
Urney Parish Church show that one Eliza McCormick and her husband Joseph
Shannon of Ferns, (later of Inischoe and Lisnaskea) had children, as follows:
(1)- Charlotte Shannon (b.
January 27, 1864)(d.?)
(2)- William Shannon (b.
July 14, 1865)(d.?)
(3)- Eliza Shannon (b.
April 27, 1867)(d.?)
(4)- Joseph Shannon (b.
March 24, 1868)(d.?)
(5)- Jacob Shannon (b.
January 6, 1871)(d.?)
(6)- Sarah Shannon (b.
July 15, 1872)(d.?)
Sarah McCormick (b.?)(d.?)
Her birth is not in the
records of Urney Parish records except as in the census of the parish taken in
1849.
Rewritten and updated by David McCormick
